Automatic electric hot water mat



' Dec. 19, 1.961 R. T. MADDING 4, 7

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC HOT WATER MAT Filed May 15, 1959 Robert 7. ModdingINVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,014,117 AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC HOT WATER MAT RobertT. Madding, 1115 Jackson, Amarillo, Tex. Filed May 15, 1959, Ser. No.813,472 3 Claims. (Cl. 219-46) This invention relates generally to matsor mattresses and more particularly to aportable mat including means forheating hot water received therein.

Of course, it is well known that hot water bottles and similar deviceshave been used for many years for the comfort of those who are ailingfrom particular causes. The utilization of the hot water devices hasproved entirely satisfactory and accordingly it is the contemplation ofthis invention to provide a novel and improved hot Water device whichbesides being beneficial to the users health, is extremely comfortableand efliciently portable.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a novelconstruction in hot water mats wherein a flexible hollow container ormat is. adapted to receive water through an aperture in one surfacethereof. A closure member is provided for covering the aperture toretain the water within the mat.

It is a further object of'this invention to provide novel heating meansfor water .received within the hot water mat which includes first andsecond circuits consisting'of insulated electrical heating elementswhich are received within the hollow container or mat. Associated withthe first and second circuits-are electrical supply means forselectively heating the first circuit ort'ne second circuit alone orsimultaneously as desired. Also, thermostatic means are utilizedconjunction vwith'the supply means for regulating th e temperature ofthe water within the mat to the desired level. Y i

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a hot watermat which is easily portable and accordingly the mat, which is'extremelythin, is adapted to be folded along a center line parallel to its endsurfaces and handles carried by the end surfaces may be utilized forcarrying the mat in a luggage like manner.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a headrestcushion which is hinged to the mat adjacent an endlsurface thereof and.which folds downwardly to engage the top surface when the mat is foldedand the upper and lower portions of the top surface are fit flushagainst each other when the mat is positioned in the luggage likeposition.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the hot water mat laid flat inposition to be utilized;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating the hot water mat foldedinto its luggage like condition; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken substantiallyalong the plane 3-3 of FIGURE I particularly illustrating the insulatedelectrical heating elements.

With continuing reference to the drawings numeral generally representsthe hot water mat comprising this invention. The mat is preferablyformed of rubber or leather and it is made watertight for apparentpurposes. The mat 10 includes a top surface 12 and a bottom surface 14.A pair of side surfaces 16 bridge the top and bottom surfaces 112 and 14while a pair of end surfaces 18 and 20 further enclose the volumedefined between the top and bottom surfaces 12 and 14 and the sidesurfaces 16.

empty, foldable along an approximate center line parallel -to the endsurfaces 18 and 20 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. The alignedhandles 26 and 28 may .then be utilized to carry the mat 10 in a luggagelike manner.

A first electrical circuit 30 is received within the volume defined bythe mat surfaces proximate the first handle 26.

The first circuit 30 includes electrical resistance heating elements 32which are insulated by a satisfactory dielectric 34 upon which water 36received within the mat 10 has no deleterious effect. A secondelectrical circuit 38 is received within the hollow mat volume spacedfrom the first circuit 30. The second circuit 38 lies proximate thesecond handle 28 and also includes a resistance heating element 32insulated by a good dielectric 34.

Each of the electrical circuits 30 and 38 have conductors 40 and 42respectively which are electrically connected to a thermostatic element44 which may be set at a desired temperature for satisfactorilyregulating the tem perature of the water 36 within the mat 10. Aconventional male plug 46, or for that matter any plug or jack isadapted to electrically connect thecircuits 30 and 38 to an electricalsupply source. A conductor 48 extends from the plug 46 to a conventionalmale plug 50 having prongs 52 and 54 for reception in any wall outlet.Interposed in the conductor 48 is a three position switch 56 having aselector actuator 58 which may be moved to any of three positions whereillustrated on the face of the switch 56. It is contemplated that in afirst position the electrical circuit 30 will be energized while in asecond position the electrical circuit 32 will be energized. In a thirdposition it is contemplated to energize both the first and secondelectrical circuits 30 and 38. The particular switch construction is notillustrated inasmuch as conventional switching means may here beutilized and the precise structure thereof does not form a part of thisinvention. It will be appreciated that the three position switch 56facilitates the utilization of the device inasmuch as by providing forselective heating, the precise body area to be treated may be treatedwithout uncomfortably affecting other portions of the body.

A headrest cushion 60 is pivotally hinged to the end surface 20 at 62,inwardly of or on top of the top surface 12. By so doing, it is apparentthat the cushion 60 may add extreme comfort to the device while it willnot hinder the portability thereof as it neatly pivots to a positionwithin the top and bottom portion of the top surface.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a hot water mat has beendisclosed for utilization by persons as a comfortable resting mat or forhealth purposes in particular. The particular mat construction relativeto the types of materials utilized is not limited and any good materialas rubber, or leather having a rubber inner coating, will suffice aslong as the mat construction is leakproof. The aperture in the first endsurface 18 along with the plug 24 allows the device to be properlyfilled and sealed. The switch 56 provides for the selective energizationof either or both of the electric circuits for heating the particularbody areas desired while the thermostatic means 44 insure theachievement of the desired temperature conditions of the hot water mat.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An automatic electric hot water mat comprising a flexible hollowcontainer including spaced top and bottom surfaces, a pair of spaced endsurfaces and a pair of spaced side surfaces, a first handle membersecured to a first of said end surfaces, a second handle member alignedwith said first handle member secured to a second of said end surfaces,a first circuit including insulated electrical heating elements, asecond circuit including insulated electrical heating elements, saidfirst circuit received within said hollow container proximate said firstend Surface, said second circuit being spaced from said first circuit bya foldable section of said mat and received within said hollow containerproximate said second end surface, said hollow container adapted to befolded into two parallel symmetrical sections when empty and adapted tobe completely filled with water when said sections are coplanar.

2. An automatic electric hot water mat for supporting a human bodycomprising a flexible hollow container including spaced top and bottomsurfaces, a pair of spaced end surfaces and a pair of spaced sidesurfaces, 21 first handle member secured to a first of said endsurfaces, a second handle member aligned with said first handle membersecured to a second of said end surfaces, a first circuit includinginsulated electrical heating elements, a second circuitincludinginsulated electrical heating elements, said first circuit receivedwithin said hollow container proximate saidfirst end surface, saidsecond circuit being spaced from said first circuit by a foldablesection of said mat and received within said hollow container proximatesaid second end surface, said hollow container adapted to be folded intotwo parallel symmetrical sections when empty and adapted to becompletely filled with water when said sections are coplanar, electricalsupply means connected to said first and second circuits for theenergization thereof, said supply means including a three positionswitch for selectively energizing either of said circuits individuallyor simultaneously and thermostatic means for controlling the temperaturewithin said container, an aperture in said container for receiving watertherethrough, a closure member associated with said aperture, and aheadrest cushion pivoted to said container adjacent one of said endsurfaces.

3. An automatic electric hot water mat for supporting a human bodycomprising a flexible hollow container including spaced top and bottomsurfaces, a pair of spaced end surfaces and a pair of spaced sidesurfaces, a first handle member secured to a first of said end surfaces,a second handle member aligned with said first handle member secured toa second of said end surfaces, a first circuit including insulateedelectrical heating elements, a second circuit including insulatedelectrical heating elements, said first circuit received within saidhollow container proximate said first end surface, said second circuitbeing spaced from said first circuit by a foldable section of said matand received within said hollow container proximate said second endsurface, said hollow container adapted to be folded .into two parallelsymmetrical sections when empty and adapted to be completely filled withwater when said sections are coplanar, electrical supply means connectedto said first and second circuits for the energization thereof, saidsupply means including a three position switch for selectivelyenergizing either of said circuits individually or simultaneously andthermostatic means for controlling the temperature within saidcontainer, an aperture in said container for receiving watertherethrough, a closure member associated with said aperture, and aheadrest cushion pivoted to said container adjacent one of said endsurfaces, said handles lying adjacent one another and said headrestpositioned between said sections when said mat is folded whereby thefolded mat may be carried as conventional luggage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

